Implications of urbanization related land use change on the Carbon and Nitrogen cycle from subtropical soils

Abstract

This research established the first non-CO2 Global Warming Potential for subtropical peri-urban environments from the N2O and CH4 soil-atmosphere gas exchange dynamics after land use change due to urbanization. Two years of high temporal gas flux measurements identified immediate, seasonal and inter-annual C and N flux changes after turf grass establishment compared to forest and pasture land use to highlight the impact of our growing cities on the environment. Despite turf grass establishment increases soil greenhouse gas emissions, which increases the Global Warming Potential, the subtropical climate of SEQ may increase the potential to reduce these emissions in the long-term.